Monday Open Thread [8.4.14]

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Larry Sabato looks at his Crystal Ball:
"2014 is no 2006. The [2006] electorate had turned off to George W. Bush and would never again turn on. The Iraq War and Hurricane Katrina were two principal reasons. The full Democratic wave emerged in the fall, after some GOP congressional scandals, but even at this point in 2006, we were just debating how high the Democratic tide would rise." "2014 is also no 2010. All of the energy was on the Republican side four years ago, as Obamacare bombed, the Tea Party arose, and the poor economy that helped elect Obama lingered. The building GOP wave was so impressive that the Crystal Ball was able to predict a House switch from Democratic to Republican control by Labor Day even though Democrats held about a 75-seat majority at that time."
No, 2014 will be most like 1998, where the incumbent White House party upends conventional wisdom and picks up seats in one or both Houses of Congress, mostly due to the overreach of the opposition party. And if the GOP goes full bore on impeachment, I am ready to predict that the Democrats will retake the House.
How to Handle the Walking Dead — or, The Casinos Are Coming for Your Tax Dollars

How to Handle the Walking Dead — or, The Casinos Are Coming for Your Tax Dollars

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In the stuff I missed over the past couple of travel weeks, was this notice from the NJ that Delaware's zombie casinos are still hanging around looking for more bailout effort from Delaware's taxpayers:
One casino executive is hopeful lawmakers will provide relief for the state's ailing casinos when they return to Legislative Hall in January. But don't call it a bailout, says Dover Downs Hotel & Casino president Ed Sutor. Talks about potential long-term fixes to keep the casinos competitive are set to begin by mid-September. "They (the state) like the jobs created and the revenue," Sutor said Tuesday afternoon during a quarterly meeting between casino stakeholders, industry professionals and state department of finance. "They know that if something isn't done, some of that is in jeopardy," he said.
Is This What Jesus Would Do?

Is This What Jesus Would Do?

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The CNN Belief Blog ran an article over the weekend about U.S. Archbishops living lives of grandeur in huge, million $ plus estates whilst their flocks struggle to put food on the family table.
Liz Cheney has no idea what the word “disgrace” means

Liz Cheney has no idea what the word “disgrace” means

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The Cheney family is a pestilence. A curse on America.
Liz Cheney bashed President Obama Friday night for the way he characterized CIA interrogation practices after Sept. 11, 2001 as “torture.” “Even before I came into office, I was very clear that in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, we did some things that were wrong. We did a whole lot of things that were right, but we tortured some folks,” Obama said during a Friday press conference. We did some things that were contrary to our values.” Cheney said this was unacceptable.